Dirty Dishes
If you’ve run a wash cycle on your dishwasher but the dishes still end up dirty, don’t blame your family’s lack of rinsing skills – it probably means your dishwasher isn’t getting enough hot water. The issue could be a defective water pump, water inlet valve, wash arm assembly or something else.

Warm Refrigerator
If your refrigerator isn’t cooling enough, you could have dirty condenser coils. Just use a long-handled bristle brush to clean them. If that doesn’t fix the problem, it may mean you have a faulty condenser fan motor, evaporator fan motor, temperature control thermostat, or another issue.

Unbaked Cookies
As fun as it is to eat raw cookie dough (although we don’t recommend it!), unbaked cookies could mean your oven isn’t heating or is heating unevenly. Depending on if it’s gas or electric, the problem could be the igniter, bake element , broil element , thermal fuse, temperature sensor or some other defective part. Get repair help if your oven doesn’t bake easily or your oven isn’t heating.

Wet ClothesAssuming you just didn’t forget to turn your dryer on, wet clothes at the end of a cycle means your dryer isn’t heating. This could be due to a faulty thermal fuse, igniter, flame sensor or another problem part. Here are five reasons your electric or your gas dryer won’t heat.

Ever wonder how’d you’d survive without your microwave? The Appliance Care Company wants to make sure that never happens to you. So, with the help of Repairclinic.com, we’ve put together a list of care and maintenance tips to keep you and your microwave happy.

Clean the Inside and Outside Often
Spills and splatters are common occurrences when you microwave food. To avoid them getting cooked on and harder to remove, clean the inside of your microwave with soap and water or a special microwave cleaner after each and every spill. Use the same cleaner or stainless steel cleaner to clean grime and fingerprints off of the outside of your microwave.

Close the Door CarefullyThe door and latch mechanism on your microwave can be somewhat vulnerable, so take care when closing the door. The door’s latch mechanisms usually have three switches that must close in a particular order. Slamming the door could change the order of the switches’ closing which could lead to a blown internal fuse. See how to replace the upper,lower and middle switches on a GE microwave.

Never Run it EmptyWhether you simply forgot to put in that microwave dinner or you thought it might be a good idea to use the timer, never ever run a microwave without anything in it. Without anything in it to absorb the microwave energy, it will bounce around inside and can cause the magnetron to overheat and fail. This would be an extremely expensive mistake!

Operate with Preset Times
There’s a reason the manufacturers have special preset buttons – they help you heat your food effectively and energy efficiently. So, you can perfectly cook your pizza, popcorn or potato and help save energy at the same time!

Use Microwave-safe DishesMetal or metallic plating are major no-nos in a microwave, they deflect the electromagnetic radiation waves and bounces them erratically around the oven. This could cause sparking and damage the transmitter. Also be careful of what plastics you put in your microwave. Softer plastic can melt and some plastics contain chemicals that could be hazardous to your health when microwaved. To protect yourself look for plastic containers marked microwave safe or, better yet, use glass containers.

Boil Water in a KettleWhile it may seem the simplest way to boil water, microwaves can “superheat” water to be much more than boiling temperature. Not only could the water itself cause burns, the cup you boil it in could suddenly burst spraying above-boiling water everywhere.

Garbage disposals … We know it’s something you use every day, but we also know they can be temperamental if not treated right. Since a new one can cost anywhere from $100 to $300, we thought we’d share some basic dos and don’ts to avoid clogged sinks and to ensure your garbage disposal is around for a while. You’ll notice that the “don’t” list is a bit longer!

Dos

Do run your garbage disposal regularly, you don’t want to overload it if it’s not necessary. This can also help beat rust and corrosion and keep all its parts moving.

Do run cold water from the faucet every single time you use your disposal. This keeps the food scraps moving and will solidify any grease that may build up and enables your garbage disposal to grind it up more easily.

Do cut or break up larger items into smaller, easier-to-manage pieces. This prevents the system from getting clogged.

Do let small chicken and fish bones, egg shells and small fruit pits get ground up in your disposer. They can create a scouring action that will clean the disposal’s walls.

Do make sure your splash guard isn’t damaged, pieces of food from your disposal could spray out of it. If it is damaged, you’ll want to replace it.

Don’ts

Don’t pour oil, fat or grease down your garbage disposal. It will eventually build up and cause problems.

Don’t turn it off until it’s done grinding whatever is in it.

Don’t turn off the water until you’ve turned off your disposer.

Don’t put any strong chemicals in your disposal like drain cleaners or bleach, they can damage the blades. You’re better off using a specialized disposal cleaner or deodorizer instead.

With the New Year just a day away, We will be making resolutions to break bad habits that we have all had in the past. The Appliance Care Company is going to list a handful of good habits to adopt for the New Year!!

Good Water Heater Habits

Did you know that heating water accounts for over 15% of the energy used in your house? Save money by turning down the temperature of your water heater to 120°F. If you set it much higher, you’ll lose money over the winter when the cold air outside makes it harder than ever to keep the water warm.

Tip: Keep your hot water heater on when leaving town for the holidays, just turn the temperature down while you’re gone. It’d cost you more to let the water cool down completely and have to heat it up again than it does to leave it at a cooler temperature than normal.

Good Laundry Habits

Since the majority of the energy your washing machine uses to do a load of laundry goes to heating the water, it pays to wash your clothes in cold water. If you use hot or warm water in a top-loading machine and electric water heater for a year, that’d equal using about 182 gallons of gas in a car. Cold water would equal only 8 gallons of gas for the year (TreeHugger).

Tip: Be sure to clean out your dryer’s lint filter after each load and clean the venting system that runs from the dryer to the house at least once a year. Extra lint makes your dryer work harder (costing you more) and can cause the dryer fuse to burn out or even a dryer fire. A long cleaning brush does the trick. RepairClinic.com also recommends using a Dryer AirFlow Checker to monitor lint buildup and blockage in your venting and possible carbon monoxide buildup.

Good Furnace Habits

During the winter months, you may want to consider replacing your furnace air filter once a month or as needed. And if your furnace has seen better days, it’ll save you in the long run to replace it now. Newer furnaces produce more heat using less energy. Finally, remember to set your furnace as low as comfortable when you’re home and drop the temperature 10° to 15° when you’re gone for the day. This can save you 10% to 15% a year on heating costs.

Tip: A programmable thermostat can save you even more by making these temperature changes automatically. Even better, go with a Wi-Fi-enabled Thermostat that’s much easier to program using a smartphone, tablet or computer. Whichever route you choose, you could save around $180 a year.

Good Humidifier Habits

It may seem like an odd approach to saving money, but a home humidifier can actually cut energy costs over the winter. Since furnaces produce dry air, and dry air isn’t known for holding heat, a house humidifier can bump up the humidity and warm up the feeling of the air. It also helps the temperatures in your home to decline at a slower rate, reducing your heating bill.

Tip: Be sure to clean the rust,scale and hard water deposits from your home humidifier and replace the humidifier pad or filter once a year.

Good Kitchen Appliance Habits

Dishwasher

There are three easy ways to save money when you run your dishwasher: Only run it when it’s full (saving 1,000 gallons of water/month); don’t use the heated dry setting, open it when they’re clean and let them air dry instead; just scrape the dishes clean before putting them in, no need to prewash them.

Oven

Your crockpot, pressure cooker, toaster oven or microwave should become your new best friends. They all use less wattage/energy than an oven or stove. They can cut your energy consumption by up to 50%. Also, keep the oven door shut when you’re cooking/baking – each time you open the door the temperature can drop by 25°. But once you’re done cooking and the oven is turned off, keep the door cracked open. The residual heat can help warm your home and save you money.

Refrigerator

Here’s a simple tip: clean your refrigerator’s condenser coils twice a year. The coils are either behind or under the fridge and can be cleaned using a long handled bristle brush or long vacuum attachment. This stops your refrigerator from having to work so hard, which in turn uses less energy.

Tip: If any of your kitchen appliances are 10-15 years old or older, then you might consider replacing them with new Energy Star rated models. Check out your energy star appliance product guide from the U.S department of energy before buying.

With Christmas right around the corner and all that family returning home for the Holiday, that laundry as magically piled up in the blink of an eye!! The Appliance Care Company has a few washer and dryer maintenance tips to get the laundry room prepared and to prevent any catastrophes!!!

Washing Machine Maintenance Tips

Inspect the Hoses
The hoses are located behind the washer. Check for any signs of wear like cracks or blistering. Many manufacturers recommend replacing them every five years. High quality stainless steel hoses are your best bet when replacing them.

Keep it LevelIf your washer vibrates when it’s on, you may need to level it. Most washing machines have self-adjusting legs in the front, sometimes in the back too. Place a level on top of your washer and see what leg needs adjusting. You can also try using leveling leg pads to help.

Clean the InsideThis is especially important if you have a front loading washing machine. Detergent residue can cause odors, so use a special washer cleaner or bleach about once a month to keep it clean and smelling fresh.

Clean the OutsideThe outside of your washer needs some periodic TLC from time to time as well. Use an all-purpose cleaner to clean the outside of the machine. If it has a few scratches, a little touch-up paint can make them disappear.

Wipe Down The Detergent and Fabric Softener DispensersSoftener and detergent can get gummy and sticky, so you’ll want to wipe them clean with a damp rag and hot water a few times a year.

Dryer Maintenance Tips

Keep the Lint Filter Clean
Clean the lint filter before or after every single load. If you have some stubborn lint that won’t budge, there’s a special brush you can get to help. The brush is also great to clean out the filter’s chute, or you can use the skinny tool attachment on your vacuum as well. If your filter is torn or cracked, you can call any appliance store to help get you a new one!

Clear the Venting SystemOnce a year, you need to clean out the inside of your dryer’s venting system (that big tube going from your dryer to the outside). And yes, this is something you can do yourself. All you need is a special cleaning brush to easily remove any lint buildup in the tube. Don’t forget to check the area around the dryer’s vent cap outside as well.

At The Appliance Care Company, We have seen how difficult it can be for customers to locate the model and serial number on appliances. So today, We are going to show you exactly where that can be located!!!

Those “little” noises you’ve been noticing some appliances making, may not be so little. The Appliance Care Company brings you Five home Noises that you should never ignore.

Washing Machine
Okay, so there are about a dozen reasons your washer could be making too much noise. It could be a bearing issue, a defective tub seal, drive pulley, motor coupling,clutch, drive belt or some other issue. Chances are a part will need to be replaced.

RefrigeratorIf your fridge is making more noise than usual, it may be a fan issue. Either the fan blade is rubbing against something, the evaporator fan motor or condenser fan motor are kaput, the compressor is worn out or the water inlet valve needs to be replaced.

Dishwasher
There are several parts that could be at fault when your dishwasher is making a ruckus, so be prepared to potentially replace the drain or circulation , wash impeller, pump and motor assembly, circulation and drain pump motor, or the water inlet valve.

Bathroom Fan
Being less complicated than a refrigerator or dishwasher, there are probably only three parts causing your bathroom fan to rumble: the exhaust fan motor bearings may be worn out, the blower wheel could be rubbing against something or is defective or the fan blade could be damaged or obstructed.

FurnaceIs your furnace sounding like it could blow the house down? Then you might want to see if the blower wheel is loose or damaged, the blower motor is worn out, the draft inducer motor is defective or the draft inducer blower wheel needs replacing.

If you experience any of these issues, call your local appliance repair center before that little problem becomes a huge problem. If located in the Kansas City Metro Area, The Appliance Care Company would love to help you out!!!

Consult your owner’s manual to see the best way to clean your oven. Some ovens have a special coating on them that cannot be cleaned with detergents, soaps or commercial oven cleaners. Also, if you do use the self-cleaning feature, check whether you are to leave the racks inside your oven during the process. Some manufacturers recommend you remove them and clean them by hand.

Be sure to use the self-cleaning function a few weeks before guests arrive as sometimes the process leaves a lingering smell. Check your oven’s heating function after it has cooled down.

Use the self-cleaning feature after you have already heated the oven to cook. This will save energy and save you money.

Replace old or worn stove knobs with new ones for a better cooking experience.

Check your oven’s temperature accuracy with an oven thermometer. Take four different readings and space them 20 minutes apart once your temperature hits its setting. Average the different readings together and divide by four for an average temperature.

Dishwasher

If your dishwasher is not cleaning like it should, use a dishwasher cleaner like Affresh to remove excess detergent residue and stains from inside your dishwasher.

The day that your 20 closest friends and relatives are coming over for Thanksgiving dinner isn’t the time to discover your oven isn’t working. Or your refrigerator, dishwasher or any other kitchen appliance, for that matter! You’ve already planned ahead for the food, dishes and snacks – why not plan ahead to ensure all of your appliance are clean and operating correctly so there’s no last minute Turkey Day surprises.

RepairClinic.com has eight simple ways to help you prevent any Thanksgiving disasters:

Run self-clean on your oven at least two weeks before the holiday.
Self-clean temperatures run pretty high, so there’s a small risk you could damage an electrical component or the door latch. Running the self-cleaning cycle well ahead of time gives you wiggle room in case you need to repair anything. Get oven repair help here.

Check that the range vent hood is clean and functioning.
If it’s not working, stop by our range vent hood repair help page to fix it, your guests will be happy you did!

If it is working, get a non-abrasive cleaning spray to remove any built-up grease and dirt from both the interior and exterior of the hood. Just don’t spray the light bulb, it won’t like it!

Clean the grease off of the air filter – the thin, silver screen. If it uses a charcoal filter, you may want to replace it. Look at your owner’s manual before taking the filter out to clean.

Give your dishwasher a once-over.

Check the drain area at the bottom of the dishwasher tub for any debris like toothpicks, glass, etc. and remove them. This can help the filter from getting clogged.

Tune up your refrigerator.The fridge is one of the most popular appliances in the house and gets plenty of use during the holidays. Give it some TLC now to avoid a future fiasco. Visit ourrefrigerator repair help page if you need extra assistance.

Clean out the condenser coils behind or underneath your refrigerator. They can get covered in dust and dirt, which makes them work harder and could damage the fridge. A long-handled bristled brush is the best way to clean them off, or use aspecial vacuum attachment.

Replace the water filter for better-tasting water and ice. This is a fairly simple fix and is something you should do every six to 12 months.

Check the refrigerator’s gasket/rubber door seal. This is what keeps the cold air in and warm air out. If it looks worn, it’s worth it to replace.

Do the all-out inside clean with a warm, wet rag and household cleaner. For fridge drawers and shelves that are extra dirty, just pull them out and wash them in the sink. If they’re looking a little worn or are cracked, you’ve got time to replace the refrigerator shelves and drawers before you entertain.

Wipe down your microwave.
Splatters are a common occurrence in microwaves, so get some warm, soapy water to remove them. Tougher stains may need a special cleaner. The glass tray can go in the dishwasher. If it’s chipped or cracked, you may want to get a newglass tray. Visit our microwave repair help page for additional assistance.

Once you’re done, that will be five less things you’ll need to worry about for Thanksgiving. Now all you have to worry about is the food, family and fun!

You’ve known us for years as Kansas City’s top appliance repair company, now we’re your first choice for new appliances! The past year, we’ve been gearing up to bring you top brands in a new storefront location. Our Belton showroom features all the top brands- Speed Queen, Amana, Kitchen Aid, Whirlpool and Maytag. We have everything to meet your needs and more!

Why do you want to buy from us? Our staff is well-trained and knowledgeable so they can walk you through the replacing your broken refrigerator or discuss a complete kitchen remodel. All you have to do is tell us what you are looking for – affordable, energy-efficient, durable, designer, luxury, emergency replacement and we’re here to help. Unlike the big box stores, we pride ourselves on customer service and you can shop in the convenience of your own home if you choose because everything’s online.

Once you decide, we offer 12 months same as cash financing (with approved credit), a five year extended warranty and we deliver in the Kansas City metro area for FREE. But know the best part? You won’t have to wait forever to get your new appliances. We’ll have it installed in your home in about 48 hours. That kind of turn-around time is rare in the industry. Make a few calls and you’ll find out for yourself.

On top of that, we service all the makes and models we sell. Hopefully nothing will go wrong with your brand new washer and dryer, but if it does you don’t have to call a repair company that you’re not familiar with to get it fixed. It’s a simple phone call to us for service. It’s easy, convenient and with our highly trained service technicians, it will get fixed quickly the first time.

We’re pleased to expand our in-home repair service and offer new appliances, however if you want a used one or scratch and dent, we can help with that as well. Check out our online store and see the wide selection we carry. Stop by our Belton location or give us a call. We can’t wait to help you.